Different mindset, Magical sites

Elsa Olander, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design

Medium: Acrylic paints and copper wire on canvas
Dimensions: 16” x 20”
Year: 2023

Ever since I was in high school, I disliked physics and chemistry. I studied to get good grades but had no interest in those subjects. I didn’t know my career choice then, but I knew it was not related to science. However, that’s where I went wrong.

Science is the magic that allows a painting to form. Sure, the artists need skills to execute the process, but if one is not knowledgeable about their choice of medium or material, then there are more challenges when creating.

When I heard about the Moldwin Prize, I took it as a second chance to learn more about science, and I certainly did.

This piece shows Earth with a scene of aurora borealis in the night sky, which I have always wanted to see, and a reflection of the Sun that is able to destroy our retinal tissues with its light emitting strength. I included copper wire, to apply my new knowledge that copper is an element using in many scientific instruments, and illuminated its shadow to create a focal point on the Sun.

This project resulted from an Art/Sci Student Residency with Professor Mark Moldwin.